Monday, March 14, 2011

Bear Quints.

Post 729 ~ ~ ~ Monday, 14th March, 2011.

Hi Everyone ~~ I hope that all is going well in your world. I am
doing fine and the weather has been pleasant, which helps. It
is a Public Holiday in Victoria today for Labour Day, which is
about the Unions bringing in an 8 hour working day.
It seems previously workers worker longer days. It was
known as "8 hours day" originally.

It sure isn't about celebrating our Ms Gillard. I had hoped the
Americans would keep her over there. No such luck.

It is good to see my little brother Peter posting again.

Dreadful earthquakes and tsunamis & explosions in Japan
with an awful lot of lives lost. The pictures are horrendous and
we should all pray for their woes to end and for their recovery
and have sympathy for the bereaved.

First item today is a lovely story sent by my dear friend,
Patricia Lincoln and is called Bear Quints. Thanks Patty.

Black Bears typically have two cubs, rarely one or three. In 2007,
in northern New Hampshire, a black bear sow gave birth to five
healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as
many as 4 cubs, but five was, and is, extraordinary.
The photographer learned of them shortly after they emerged from
their den and set a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom-
no matter how much time and effort was involved.

He knew the trail they followed on a regular basis. usually shortly
before dark. After spending nearly 4 hours a day, 7 days a week, for
more than six weeks, he had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
and photographed them. He used a very fast film speed on his
digital camera. The print is properly focused and well exposed, with
all six bears posing as if they were in a studio for a family portrait.





The photographer stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears
during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued
to thrive. As the time for hibernation approached, he found more folks
who had seen them, and everything remained OK. The photographer stayed
away from the bears because he was concerned that they might become
habituated to him, or to people in general, and treat them as approachable
friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man and animal.

After Halloween, no further reports and could only hope the bears survived
until they hibernated. This spring, just before the snow disappeared, all six
bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same familiar territory
they trekked i the spring of 2007.

The photographer saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking
another family portrait, a highly improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photo.

On 25th April, 2008, he achieved his dream.
When something as magical as this happens between man and animal, Native
Americans say, "We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow."
And so it is with humility and great pleasure that I share these exhilarating
photos with you,
I have found the photographer's name -- Tom Sears.



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Now to find some jokkes for you. My dear friend Lady Di sent this true story
proving how fascinating the mind of a six year old is. They think so logically.

A teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs to her class.

She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to gather
the building materials for his home.

She read, "And so the pig went up to the man with the wheelbarrow full of
straw and said, "Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that straw to build
my house?"

The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think the man said?"

One little boy raised his hand and said very matter-of-factly ......

"I think the man would have said - "I'll be a son of a bitch!! A talking pig."

The teacher had to leave the room.
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One from my friend Bikerbob in the U. K.
Thanks Bob.
It is called "Do Your Homework."

The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Parks, asked her class,
"Which human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?"

No-one answered until little Mary stood up and said, "You should not be
asking sixth graders a question like that. I'm going to tell my parents, and they
will go and tell the Principal, who will then fire you."

Mrs Parks ignored her and asked the question again, "Which body part increases
to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

Little Mary's mouth fell open. Then she said to those around her, "Boy is she
going to get in big trouble?"

The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, "Anybody?"

Finally Billy stood up, looked around nervously, and said, "The body part that
increases 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye."

Mrs. Parks said, "Very good, Billy," then turned to Mary and continued, "As for
you, young lady, I have three things to say:

One, you have a dirty mind.
Two, You didn't read your homework.
And three, one day you are going to be very VERY disappointed."
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Next two are from my good friend in Canberra. Thanks Linda It is nice to
have at least one friend in Canberra. First one is "Exchange Rate"

I was at my bank today, there was a short line. There was just
one lady in front of me, an Asian lady who was trying to exchange
yen for dollars. It was obvious she was a little irritated.

She asked the teller, "Why it change?" Yesterday, I get two
hundred dollars for yen. Today I only get eighty? Why it change?"

The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, "Fluctuations."

The Asian lady says, "Fluc you white people too."
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Next one is called "Irish Traditions." Thanks Linda again.
Paddy had long heard of the stories of amazing family tradition.

It seems that his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather
had all been able to walk on water on their 18th birthday.
On that special day, they'd each walked across the lake to the
pub on the far side for their first legal drink.

So when Paddy's 18th birthday came round, he and his pal Mick,
took a boat out to the middle of the lake, Paddy stepped out of
the boat..... and nearly drowned. Mick just managed to save him.

Furious and confused, Paddy went to see his grandmother.

"Grandma," he asked, "Tis me 18th birthday, so why can't I walk
'cross the lake like me father,his father, ad his father before him?"

Granny looked deeply into Paddy's troubled brown eyes and said,
"Because ye father, ye grandfather, and ye great-grandfather
were all born in December, when the lake is frozen, and ye were
born in August, ye b
****y idiot."
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My good friend Lorraine sent me this one. Thanks Lorraine. It is called
"An Honest Mistake."

The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing and stopped
at the pedestrian crossing even though he could have beaten the red light by
accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration,
as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell
phone and make-up.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into
the face of a very serious police officer. He ordered her to ex
it her car with her
hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger-printed,
photographed and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door.
She was escorted back to the booking desk, where the arresting officer was waiting
with her personal effects.

He said, "I am very sorry for the mistake, You see, I pulled up behind your car while
you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you and cussing a blue
streak at him. I noticed the "What Would Jesus Do" bumper sticker.
the " Choose Life license plate holder.
the "Follow Me to Sunday School bumper sticker,
and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the boot, so naturally......
I assumed you had stolen the car."
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Finally one from Mountain Wings called " One Day."

I have encouraged you to forward issues that would benefit your friends.

This is the most profound quote for a true friend that I have seen.

If you have a true friend, you will understand it.

A friend sent this to me, so I to you, my friend.

"If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day,
So that I never have to live without you."
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Enough for this post my friends, Look after yourselves and each other.
Enjoy some joy every day. Love and Best Wishes, Cheers, Merle.

Post 729 ~~~ Monday, 14th March, 2011.
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15 comments:

Dave said...

Outstanding post today Merle! *S* And so glad you're feeling well.

The bear story... was very touching, thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Merle, you made my day so much brighter with the wonderful story of the bear family and these very funny jokes :D Thank you! So happy to know that you are feeling well~~~
Warm Hugs,
Jan

Jack K. said...

Merle, what a great post. Most importantly you are doing well.

The bear story is incredible.

The jokes added additional lightness to my day. I loved the homework one.

Keep up your good works.

Joy Des Jardins said...

So glad you are feeling well Merle...and that the weather is good. It's starting to look more spring-like here...and that makes me VERY happy. I've been watching the newscasts on tv of the horrible destruction in Japan...I can't even fathom what they all must be going through. I have a blogger friend who has lived in Japan for many years with his family; and I was relieved to hear he and his family were safe. I pray they get the help they need to begin the recovery process.

Stay well and happy Merle... Love, Joy

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

So happy you're well and the weather good. The bear story and pictures are just phenomenal. And I laughed my posterior off again reading the jokes...really liked the last one!

Prayers continue for the Japanese!

I couldn't link to your brother's blog...but I think I got there another way once before so will try again.

Blessings to you Merle and thank you for the laughter :)

HORIZON said...

Lovely bear story Merle but you killed me with the three little pigs- wow- nearly fell off my chair laughing - still smiling!!
All that is going on in Japan makes me feel so thankful for what l have here- l am going to make the most of each day for sure- it would be shameful not to.
love to you Merle
Thanks for the smiles :)xx

Patty said...

Good morning Merle, today is laundry day for me. Yesterday was my check up at the oncologist, everything went A-OK for check up and blood work. I'll see them again in six months. In about 10 months I'll be able to stop taking Femera. I'll be happy about that. The news is so sad listening to all the horrible things. But I did see one nice report, they found a 4 month old baby and was able to reunite it with it's parents. That's amazing. Take care. I'm anxiously waiting for Spring time, my favorite time of year. Late Spring. Love, Patty

Margaret Cloud said...

I know that was a terrible disaster in Japan and still is, we are all praying for them. Patty sent me an email on the bear quints, very cute. That pig joke, so funny, but the kid is right. Enjoyed the rest, good as usual. Have a nice week.

Mountain Mama said...

I share your concern and prayers for Japan. I can't imagine what horror they are going through.
Loved the jokes Merle and especially the quote about a true friend. How beautiful!

Gina E. said...

Enjoyed the jokes, Merle, and I chuckled at your comment about hoping the Americans would keep Ms Juliar. I don't think they are that stupid.
Poor Japan - such a terrible time for them. After Qld and NZ's disasters too - makes you worry about what else is around the corner...
Thanks for your kind comments and good wishes for Ken.

Lady Di Tn said...

Merle
The bears photos are wonderful. Thanks for sharing the jokes to make us lol in blog land. So very thankful that you are doing well. Have a Happy St Patrick day. Peace

Granny Annie said...

I had seen the photograph of the mama bear and her five infant cubs but never had seen the later picture. How wonderful!

Big Dave T said...

I'll bet that photographer was glad those bears were apparently well fed. That was a pretty imposing sight.

More disasters. And again it seems to happen on your side of the globe. But I hear the winds are blowing the radioactivity our way. Maybe that's why the sunrise was so pretty this morning.

Liked your jokes as always.

audrey` said...

The 3 disasters in Japan are too much to handle. May the victims have the necessary help to move on and carry on.